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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04a Report 07-134 Sponsored Naming of Schools & Board Facilities Date: 25 June 2007 Report No. 07-134 to Chairs’ Committee Re: Sponsored Naming of Schools/Board Facilities Re: Policy P.107.FAC -- Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities and Opening Ceremonies ORIGINATOR: Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis, Director of Education and Secretary of the Board PURPOSE: 1. To seek approval of amendments to Policy P.107.FAC Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities and Opening Ceremonies to provide the opportunity for individuals to be recognized for significant financial contribution to public education through the Ottawa- Carleton District School Board. BACKGROUND: 2. There is currently no provision for naming recognition for significant financial contributions to public education through the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Education Foundation of Ottawa. This could occur as a one-time contribution or as a number of contributions over a period of time. 3. Policy P.107.FAC establishes the rules which guide naming recognition (the naming or renaming of schools, educational support facilities, or major components of a school or other facility). 4. Report No. 07-018 Sponsored Naming of Schools/Board Facilities (Appendix 1) was discussed at the 30 January 2007 meeting of Chairs’ Committee and a follow-up report was requested. 5. Report No. 07-045 Proposed Amendments to Policy P.107.FAC to Enable Named Recognition for Significant Financial Contribution (attached as Appendix 2) was discussed at the 28 February 2007 meeting of Chairs’ Committee. The draft policy was shared with School Councils Chairs, requesting input by the end of May. STATUS: 6. Two responses were received from school councils: a) The school council at Trillium Elementary School supports the amendments in principle, expressing some concern that a clear guideline or character clause be in place to outline conditions with which the recognition must comply, concerned that the OCDSB, schools or buildings may be associated with individuals, groups, or institutions whose ethics were contrary to those of public education. b) The school council at Alta Vista Public School opposes the naming of public- supported schools, educational facilities, or parts thereof for financial recognition, regardless of whether the contribution is voluntary, solicited or conditional. The AVSC believes that all naming of schools, educational facilities or parts thereof should only occur after consultation with and, approval by, the particular school community concerned. 7. The proposed revised Policy P.107.FAC: Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities and Opening Ceremonies is attached as Appendix 3. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATONS: 8. Financial contributions have been given to schools and the Education Foundation of Ottawa. It is not known at this time what the impact will be of including financial contributions in the list of contributions eligible for naming recognition. CONSULTATION: 9. Input was sought from all school councils in April 2007. CONCLUSION: 10. Providing naming recognition in return for financial contribution has not received support and would create a complicated legal process. There is currently no prohibition against naming recognition for freely given financial contribution. The proposed policy amendments simply recognize this opportunity within policy. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended THAT the Board approve the amendments to Policy P.107.FAC, Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities and Opening Ceremonies as displayed on Appendix 3 of Report No. 07-134 to Chairs’ Committee. Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis Director of Education/ Secretary of the Board Date: 30 January 2007 Report No. 07-018 to Chairs’ Committee Re: Sponsored Naming of Schools/Board Facilities ORIGINATOR: Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis, Director of Education (ext. 8219) PURPOSE: 1. To obtain input with respect to the possible extension of board policy regarding the naming of schools to include the naming of board buildings, including schools, and the naming of facilities within buildings in recognition of generous philanthropic benefactions. STATUS: 2. Policy P.107.FAC (attached as Appendix A) establishes the rules which school communities must follow when recommending to the board a name for a school. This could apply to new schools, as well as to re-naming existing schools. 3. Schools have been named after prominent citizens for many years. Recently, many new schools have been named after famous Canadians who have contributed to the arts and sciences. 4. A number of schools have named a library or an auditorium after a person, usually a teacher or other employee, who has contributed significantly to the school. 5. The Board has undertaken a number of activities to supplement revenue provided through government grants. These include recruiting overseas students and providing services to overseas educators and students through OCENET, establishing partnerships with other public sector providers (Outdoor Education Council of Ottawa) and the private sector (Ameresco), and encouraging donations to the Education Foundation of Ottawa. 6. Previous attempts to recognize donations, for example by placing a corporate logo on a school score board, have been denied. However, schools and school boards have, through recent financial hardship, sought and established partnerships with commercial enterprises that have provided goods, services and money. Recent examples locally include Ameresco’s sponsorship of the board’s EarthCARE program, GM’s Saturn sponsorship of a playground at Cambridge Street Community School, and Indigo’s grant to Pinecrest Public School. In these cases, recognition of the contributions have been made through media releases, special events, notices and signs and accepting the gifts was often conditional on this sort of public recognition. 7. A form of contribution which has not been recognized directly by naming a room or building after the contributor is a financial contribution by an individual, group or business. Philanthropic gifts to the school board can make possible the construction or restoration of buildings, or the development or extension of programs. 8. Naming a space or building in recognition of a benefactor would be a departure from current practice. This is a well-established custom in the private sector for sports and performing arts venues and commercial properties, and in many of our publicly-funded higher education institutions and hospitals (refer to Appendix B). This does is not the current practice for public school boards. 9. Naming recognition for an unsolicited financial contribution could be done after the fact or it could be as a condition of accepting a contribution. In either case, the recognition could apply to the name of a space within, or associated with, a building (auditorium, hallway, foyer, science lab, classroom, office, gymnasium, cafeteria, library, playing field, playground, etc.) or to the name of a building (school, administrative office, annex, etc.) 10. Before potential financial benefactors are approached, it is essential that the Board determine if it wishes to adopt a policy that recognizes benefactors through the naming of buildings or spaces. 11. A policy should consider factors such as: a) is it applicable to individuals, groups, institutions, or commercial enterprises? b) if for living persons, inclusion of a character clause outlining conditions with which the recognition must comply; c) any other restrictions as to contributor; d) is it applicable to schools or spaces in schools? other board properties? e) length of time the board commits to the name ; f) will there be fixed fees or negotiated (if so, minimum?); g) specifics regarding words to be used in the name, e.g., for schools, use of the word “public”; h) what is the role/involvement of local community? SUMMARY: 12. Schools have accepted donations from benefactors and have provided public recognition, sometimes as a condition of receiving the donation. Schools have named rooms after staff and volunteers who have made significant non-financial contributions to the schools. The Board often names schools after significant individuals. Universities and hospitals have named buildings and parts of buildings after benefactors who have made significant contributions, usually as a condition of accepting the donations. If staff are to approach potential philanthropic benefactors, the Board must establish a policy which specifies the condition under which it is willing to accept donations and how the donation will be recognized. SUBMITTED FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION. ________________________________ Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis Director of Education/ Secretary of the Board 28 February 2007 Report No. 07-045 to Chairs’ Committee Re: Proposed Amendments to Policy P.107.FAC to Enable Named Recognition for Significant Financial Contribution ORIGINATOR: Dr. Lorne M.Rachlis, Director of Education and Secretary to the Board PURPOSE: 1. To propose amendments to Policy P.107.FAC Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities and Opening Ceremonies that would provide the opportunity for individuals to be recognized for significant financial contribution to public education through the Ottawa- Carleton District School Board A. when the contribution is unconditional, and B. when the contribution is negotiated for recognition. BACKGROUND: 2. Policy P.107.FAC (attached as Appendix 1) establishes the rules which guide naming recognition (the naming or renaming of schools, educational support facilities, or major components of a school or other facility). 3. Report No. 07-018 Sponsored Naming of Schools/Board Facilities (attached as Appendix 2) was discussed at the 30 January 2007 meeting of Chairs’ Committee and a follow-up report was requested. 4. There is currently no provision for naming recognition for significant financial contributions to public education through the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Education Foundation of Ottawa. This could occur as a one-time contribution or as a number of contributions over a period of time. 5. Contributions which result in naming recognition in the public sector--a common practice at hospitals, colleges, and universities--may be unrestricted (i.e., the receiving institution can use the money for any purpose) or may be restricted by the donor, subject to agreement by the recipient. Restricted contributions are typically used for such purposes as construction or renovation of a building or part of a building, program development, student awards and learning resources. 6. Naming recognition is usually extended to an individual or a family name. Corporate or other business names are typically not used in the public sector. STATUS: Part A -- Unconditional Contribution 7. An unconditional contribution is a contribution freely given with no reciprocal action required on the part of the recipient institution. Policy P.107.FAC can be amended so that named recognition for significant unconditional financial contribution can be accomplished by adding a sub-section to section 2.1 between (b) and (c) as a new (c) and with subsequent renumbering: new 2.1 (c) in recognition of an individual for a significant financial contribution to public education through the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Education Foundation of Ottawa and a complementary addition of the word “financial” to 3.4 which will now read: new 3.4 if the school has been named after a famous Canadian or in recognition of a significant educational, financial or local historical contribution….. Part B -- Conditional or Negotiated Contribution 8. When the donation involves a proposal for named recognition, i.e., in exchange for a donation the Board is asked to name a building or part of a building after the donor or someone designated by the donor, then acceptance of the proposal must comply with Board policy which specifies the rules under which the Board accepts such a condition. It should be noted that a gift is a voluntary transfer of property without consideration. In order for a donation/contribution to qualify as a gift, a donor must freely dispose of property. Any legal obligation on a payor to make a donation/contribution would cause the donation/contribution to lose its status as a gift. 9. Enabling amendments to Policy P.107.FAC should specify: a) what may be named b) restrictions to whose name may be used c) the use to which donations may be put d) time commitment e) process to be followed including the role of the local community in the naming process a) A benefactor’s name may be attached to a school or administrative building or part of a building such as a wing, room, laboratory, auditorium, cafeteria, foyer, library, hallway, office or playground. It is also possible for naming recognition to include a program or service, or such other entities as the Board may from time to time see fit to name, in order to recognize service or philanthropic donations. b) The name to be used will usually be the name of the benefactor or someone the benefactor wishes to honour. The name may be a family name. No name will be approved that implies the Board’s endorsement for a commercial product. The person named must be of good character. c) Contributions/donations should generally not be accepted for operational, on-going expenses since the expenses continue but the revenue typically does not. Use of a contribution to fund a capital project or substantial part of a capital project or some other specific expenditure is most common. It is also possible to establish a reserve from which withdrawals are periodically made to fund an on-going expenditure. d) Unless otherwise negotiated with the donor and agreed to by the Board, the duration of the naming will be the useful life of the asset. In the instance of a building or other facility, this would be until a change in function, major renovation, or demolition. When the person or persons named are determined by the Board not to be of good character, the Board may withdraw named recognition. e) Ultimate authority to accept or decline any proposal to name, or to discontinue a designated name, rests with the Board. When a school or part of a school is considered for naming recognition, the school council, or where no council exists, the school community through a public meeting, must be consulted and its recommendation considered by the Board. The Board reserves the right to decide on any physical displays which may accompany named recognition. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATONS: 10. There is considerable potential for financial contributions to schools and to the Board from private donors associated with naming recognition. Naming recognition of contributions has not been offered or extended. Therefore, the extent of this potential will not be known until the Board establishes the conditions for such contributions. CONSULTATION: 11. This report will be sent to all school council chairs to invite input, to be received by the end of May 2007. A report, in consideration of the input received and any further research, will be presented to Chairs’ Committee at its June meeting. ____________________________________ Dr. Lorne M. Rachlis Director of Education/ Secretary to the Board ____________________________________________________________________________________ -1- P.107.FAC POLICY P.107.FAC TITLE: NAMING OF SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FACILITIES AND OPENING CEREMONIES Date issued: 21 November 2001 Last Revised: 14 November 2005 Authorization: Board: 10 September 2001 1.0 OBJECTIVE 1.1 To provide a framework for naming schools and educational support facilities. 1.2 To recognize and celebrate the official opening of new schools, major additions, or other educational support facilities, including adjacent day care centres and municipal facilities. 2.0 POLICY 2.1 It is the policy of the Board that the following shall be used as guidelines in the selection of the names for new schools or educational support facilities or renaming a school or educational support facility: (a) in honour of a famous Canadian event, achievement, or individual; or (b) in recognition of an individual for outstanding lifetime contribution to the educational community which may include a financial contribution, or (c) in recognition of a local historical contribution by a resident or family, or (d) the street, road, major thoroughfare or geographical feature on which, or near to where, the school is located, or (e) the village, town, subdivision or community in which the school is located. 2.2 A major component of the school such as a library, gymnasium or day care unit may be named to recognize a particular or outstanding lifetime contribution, including a financial contribution, of a member of the community. 2.3 All future schools offering programs from kindergarten to grade 8, or any other elementary grade configuration, shall have the designation “Public School” as part of the official name. 2.4 The official opening of a new school, major addition to an existing school or other educational support facility is a central Board function for which the Chair and members of the Board of Trustees are official hosts. An official opening ceremony shall involve, as fully as possible, parents, school council chair, students, staff, municipal/provincial/ federal officers, and the general public in a single ceremony. 3.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES 3.1 Care should be taken to avoid similarities with the names of existing schools within the district. 3.2 The Board's logo and name shall be incorporated into the overall design of new school signage and, subject to the availability of funds, existing schools and educational support facilities. 3.3 The official school opening should be structured with minimum formality and feature participation by students, staff, community representatives, the Chair of the Board and the local trustee. 3.4 If the school has been named after a famous Canadian or in recognition of a significant educational or local historical contribution by a resident or family, the Official Opening Committee shall endeavour to recognize the individual(s) and/or contributions within the official ceremony. 3.5 The Director of Education is authorized to issue any necessary procedures to implement this policy. 4.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS The Education Act, 2000, Section 195 Board Procedure PR.630.FAC: Naming of Schools and Educational Support Facilities Board Procedure PR.599.COM: Official Opening Ceremonies – New Schools ____________________________________________________________________________________ -2- P.107.FAC